Fire-extinguishing apparatus



Aug. 24, 1926. 1,597,516

F. A. EPPS FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed July so.- 192i A 1N VEA/TOR Ffm/VK A.EPPs

ATTORNEY Patented ug. 24, 19,2(i.

UNITED STATES i isszl PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. EPPS, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSGNOR TO FOAlVITE-CHILDS CORPORATION, rOIE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHNG Ail?PARATUS.

Application filed July 30, 1921. Serial No. 488,540.

The invention relates to foam-type lire extinguishing systems for the protection of isolated fire risks where elaborate and expensive installations are not warranted, the principal object of the invention being saving of the apparatus required and its re-r tion includes a plurality of compartmentsl or tanks 10 and 11 respectively, the tanks being of relatively 'small capacity and adapted for the reception of A and- B chemical component solutions.` The solution tanks 10 and 11 may be conveniently supported as by means of the piers 12 located in any convenient part of the plant. Connected to the solution tanks 10 and 11 are the distribution lines 13 and 14 respectively, the said distribution lines comprising piping communicating with the interior of the tanks and extending into the bottoms of the respective tanks, the distribution piping terminating preferably in bell mouth solution inlets'15 and 16 respectively. The distribution lines may consist of the riser pipes 13 and 14 connected to thelaterally extending pipe sections 17 and 18 respectively, the said solution lines comprising a normally dry pipe system. Connected to the lateral piping 17 and 18 and openly communicating therewith I provide one or more sprinkler heads such as 19 and 20, these sprinkler heads being preferably of the type disclosed in the co-pending application of Orlando R. Erwin, Serial No, 398,653 of July 24, 1920, the sprinkler heads 19 and 20 which may also comprise mixing chambers of the type disclosed in the patent to Meigs and Epps, No. 1,261,422, of April 2, 1918 being preferably normally open, that is, with the fusible link and closure cap thereof removed. My present installation is provided for employment with the cheaper types of plants and in my present exemplilicationk I show the installation in a plant where inflammable compounds such as varnish, lacquer or gasolene contained in containers such as small dip tanks 21 and 22 are desired to be protected, such tanks having been found to be a frequent source of fire,

the rapid extinguishing of which is desired where spread of the fire isv to be minimized. The sprinkler heads 19 and 20 may conveniently be mounted directly above the dip tanks 21 and 22, as shown particularly in FigureV 1 of the drawings. yThe small capacity solution tanks,'the relatively short dry pipe distribution lines, with the normally open sprinkler heads lprovides equipment which may be installed at a very low cost for the protection of inexpensive property, withthe cost of upkeep of the system a negligible factor. f

To drive the component solutions through the dry piping lines intime of re means is provided for exerting'f pressure on the solution levels in: the tanks to force the solutions through the distribution piping. The amount of space in a small plant being relatively limited, it is desired td provide a T5k pressure system in the form of a gas generator, the generator being adapted to be set into activity in time-of lire for 'the pro- `duction of large volumes of gas under the necessary pressure to effect movement of the S0 solutions through the distribution lines and to the mixing sprinkler heads. To these ends I provide a gas generator employing a compressor fluid cartridge or a combustible cartridge of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,422,406 of Frederick C. Bargar. Accordingly,l provide a casing 23 which may be supported in the bracket 24, the casing dening a gas chamber Vprovided with a gas duct 25 communicating with gas pressure lines provided by the pipe section 26 connected tothe duct 25, the pipe y26 being, in turn, connected to the duplex pressure lines 27 and 28 which are, in turn, connected for communication withv the solution tanks 1() and 11 respectively'. Housed in the casingv 23 l provide the capsule or cartridge 29 of the type disclosed in the said patent, the said capsule being of a combustible nature and being adapted to be set into combus- 100 tion and gas producing activity in time of fire for the gradual generation of gases having exit from the casing 23 to the gas piping 26, 27 and 28 and to the solution tanks 10 and 11 for exerting pressure on the solu-` tion levels in the tanks to force the solutions through the distribution piping 13 and 14, through the lateral pipe sections 17 and 18 and t0 the mixing chambers 19 and 20,

the solutions'being forcibly comixed in the 110 said Chambers for the production of the ire extinguishing compound. To set the cartridge 29 into gas producing activity the plunger 30 arranged for sliding motion in the bracket 24 is provided, the plunger 30 being` provided at one eind With aha'rpo'on or cutting head 3l and at-its other end with an enlarged anvil portion 32, the plunger 30 being intended in time of nre to be actuated downwardly in the bracket 24,1such`doWn-- Ward lmotion effecting an impact between the cutting head 3l and the cartridge 29 for setting the cartridge into combustion activity.' Y

For the purpose of setting the cartridge into gas producing activity for the more speciiic purpose of actuating or impelling the plunger 30 in its descent, I provide moons adapted Ito be manually operated or to be automatically operated 'by the existence of a tire. To this end I providethe Weighted .hammer element 33, the said element'SS being mounted for slidable movement in al bracket 34, the element being maintained 4in an elevated position, as shown in Figure l of the drawings, by means oi? the cable 35 guided over spaced pulleys or sheaves 36` and 3.7, the cable being connected at one end to the weighted element 33, as s hoivn at 88, the cable being held at its other 'end byA a hook member 39 engaging a handle 4.0 fixed to the cable 35. The cable 35 is further provided With a plurality of fusible link elements/4l, the said Vfusible elements being preferably located above the dip tanks 2l and 22. It will be apparent from this construction that in the event of a fire the handle i0 may be released fromv the hool 39 toeffect the descent of the Weighted ham. mer l33, gravitated movement ofthe said hammer impelling the plunger 30 towards the gas'cartridge 29 to set the same vinto activity. The Weighted hammer 33 is-adapted also to be operated automatically in the event of aV fire, the fusing of the link or links al breaking the cable 35 to effect the desired-gravitated movement of the hammer element 33- lNhile l have shown my device inthe -preferred form, it Will be 'obvious that many changes and 'modifications may be made in the structure disclosed YWithout de aarting from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims. i' I claim: Y l. A tire extinguishing system-of the type in which normally stored chemical component solutions are intermixed in time of iire for the production of a fire extinguish- 111g ,foam comprising a plurality of solution tanks for holding the component solutions, a distributor head, distribution llines connecting 'the solution tanks with lthe .head for separately conducting the solutions thereto, the said head comprising means for effecting intermixtureof ythe solutions to produce the lire extinguishing foam and for delivering the foam to the region Lof 'the tire, a gas generator eirlective in time of lfire for generating gases .for exerting operating .pressure on the solutions in the :tanks for driving the saine through the distribution lines and means independent of the head 'for setting the generator into activity, the said means including elements radapted to be automatically controlled by lire conditions.

2. A lire extinguishing-system of the type in which normally stored chemical lcomponent vsolutions vare'intermixed intime of lire for 'the production of a fire extinguishing foam, vcomprising a plurality of solution tanks for holding thel component solutions, a mixing chamber, distributionlines connecting the solution tanksfwith the mixing chambertor separately conducting the solutionstheretofthe said .mixing chamber comi prising means for' effecting intermixture of the solutions to produce ka lire extinguishing ioam and yfor ,delivering the foam to the region 'of the fire, a combustion gasgeneratoreiective 1in time of fire for generating gases for exerting operating pressure on the solutions in the tanks ordriving the same through the kdistribution lines, vand vmeans independent of the mixing chamber rfor setting the combustion gas generator into actvity- Signed at Yew Yorkinthe county of New York and *State* of New York 'this twenty-seventh day of-Jul-y-A. I). 1921.

, .maar A. ners. 

